Thank you so much to Amulet Books and NetGalley for an ARC of this book!

Raybearer was one of my absolute favorite reads in 2020. I was enthralled by the world and the storytelling and the characters, so when Redemptor was up for request, I did so with alacrity. I was absolutely not disappointed!

Redemptor picks up where Raybearer left off - Tarisai sits on the throne as Empress, and she's busy trying to convene a council of her own to appease the spirits of the dead before taking her walk in the underworld. In doing so, she'll have to bare her soul to make them love her, reliving her worst memories. She'll have to prepare her body and mind for the underworld. She'll have to question everything she thinks she knows about what she wants for her people.

In this stunning follow-up, we see Tarisai grapple with the soul-crushing guilt of the lost Redemptor children. It eats at her and haunts her, and there's something to be said here for how if we let the sadness and guilt consume us, it makes it impossible to see clearly and do what's right. She has the burden of her entire kingdom on her shoulders, and she's determined to carry it all herself.

I loved the found family aspect of the first book, and that carries over here and expanded upon. We see the original council, but we see a new one too. Relationships and love are such an important part of this book. I really appreciate the way we see platonic love. Dayo and Tarisai are soul-mates, bound together with something no one else can understand, but it's not romantic. It's a deep respect and understanding that's rooted deep inside, and I'm here for that kind of relationship. We saw a glimpse of Dayo's asexuality in the first book, and it's explored more here in a really great and respectful way, and I was so glad to see that kind of representation.

The story-telling is just as rich, the African influences just as beautiful, the imagery just as gorgeous. I wish there was a third book just so we could stay in this world a little longer and so this book could've expanded on some parts, but alas, we can't always get what we want. Either way, one of the best YA fantasy series I've read and I can't wait to see what this author does next!

Raybearer was one of my favorite books of 2020. It's safe to say that Redemptor follows the same fate and secures a high spot on my 2021 list. I was easily captivated by Redemptor as I was with Raybearer. From the intricate plot, the rich world-building, and the beloved characters, I was spellbound by Jordan Ifueko's words from beginning to end.

With the ongoing discourse of the definition of what a strong female character is, Tarisai certainly falls gracefully into that category. Yes, Tarisai is physical and emotional strength. However, she recognizes her own faults and blind spots. However, more impressively, she is able to recognize that her own character growth has outgrown her loved ones' expectations. It is this element that I have not seen captured authentically and beautifully. Even more true, it is something that readers can easily recognize and relate to.

The Raybearer duology is a rich and enchanting high fantasy series that cannot be missed.

Thank you to Netgalley and ABRAMS Kids for providing me with an e-ARC of this book!

I'm always a little bit nervous going into sequels, especially sequels of books that I loved. The potential for the story to go wrong is always there, and finales are often bittersweet. I'm happy to report, therefore, that Redemptor was a fantastic sequel and a beautiful conclusion to Tarisai's story.

The novel picks up right where Raybearer left off, with newly-crowned Tarisai on the verge of anointing her new council. Her promise to enter the Underworld looms over her, and she is adjusting to the burden of being an Empress. There's a lot going on, with overlapping storylines and a massive cast. Overall, however, Ifueko handles it deftly, ensuring that the reader never feels overwhelmed by the scale of the book.

Redemptor builds further onto Aritsar's mythology, magic and history, expanding on the lore of the first book. At the same time, a new cast of characters is introduced - the leaders that Tarisai is going to have to anoint to her council. Some of the new characters absolutely won my heart, and I'm going to be thinking about Zuri and Min Ja for a long time. Without revealing any spoilers, their characters add so much richness to the world - their interactions with Tarisai paralleled her internal conflicts so beautifully, and brought in new facets and angles through which the entire s novel an be seen. Needless to say, I'm going to be ready with about 70 different analyses by the time the book is actually released.

I also found Tarisai's visions of the ojiji spirits some of the most compelling scenes in the book. Protagonists struggling with their newfound responsibilities is a common theme in fantasy novels, but (view spoiler) Though none of us are empresses, Tarisai manages to remain a relatable character.

Another part of Redemptor that absolutely stood out to me was Tarisai's found family and their relationships. I loved getting to know Ai Ling in this book, and (view spoiler). Sanjeet, as always, was wonderful and his relationship with Tarisai continued to be heartwarming. Seeing a brown boy represented so beautifully is infinitely meaningful, and I loved the duology even more for it. The diversity continued to stun, with nuanced characters representing so many different races and sexualities.

I haven't even touched upon the other myriad themes that Ifueko manages to address in this book - from the inherent unjustness of a monarchy, to the class divides between the rich and poor, to the nature of activism and what it takes to make change in a flawed world, Redemptor engages boldly with difficult questions. Incredibly, it still manages incorporate the most beautiful themes of Raybearer, including love, loss, family, grief, and faith.

Raybearer and Redemptor are beautiful books, and I will be recommending them to anyone who asks.

*This review contains spoilers

I loved Raybearer so much and I was so excited to have Redemptor as my first arc!

The reason that I am not rating this a full five stars is honestly because Tarisai really pissed me off throughout the duration of this book. I was annoyed by the constant self doubt despite the fact that she is doing her best and is still so young.

Aside from that and the character Zuri, I loved this book. I especially enjoyed Tarisai's relationship with Min Ja , as well as the LGBTQ+ and disability rep

My final rating for Redemptor is 4.5/5 starts

Overall I did enjoy this, just not as much as book one and I am excited to see what Jordan Ifueko writes next. Raybearer and Redemptor are two of the best YA fantasies that I have ever read.

At first, I was so scared that this book would not live up to the amazingness of Raybearer and honestly I have never been so happy to be wrong in my life. Raybearer and Redemptor are easily one of the best YA duologies out there. I'm so excited for TikTok to finally get a hold of this book because wow! I know they're going to love it.

"Do not ask how many people you will save. Ask to what world will you save them? What makes a world worth surviving in?"

Rating: All-Time Favorite

This book absolutely BLEW me away! I really liked Raybearer, but it wasn't one that I was obsessed with or really stuck in my mind after reading it. NOT SO with Redemptor. I cried SO MANY tears while reading this one just because of the sheer beauty of the story, the language, and Tarisai's journey and her growth throughout. Definitely something that will be living in my mind for a while, and it has definitely earned a place on my shelf of YA favorites!

So this book picks up fairly soon after the events of Raybearer. It covers the entire scope of Tar's appointing of a council through her journey into the Underworld. I was super nervous as I was reading because I had no idea how all of this was going to be covered in one book. I should not have worried one bit because it was executed flawlessly! There is another conflict that Tarisai must deal with simultaneously as she anoints her council, and she grapples with the implications of what exactly she needs to do in her role of Empress and how she can best care for her people and deal with the guilt that she is feeling.

Some things that I really loved about this book:
* it delves further into the concept of toxic family members and the impact that they can have on us as humans
* There are explorations of what it means to not really want sexual contact and what that can look like within the bounds of a romantic partnership
* It explores the ideas that not everyone *wants* to have children, and brushes the surface of adoption and different kinds of families, as well as the idea that it is alright to live for something besides your children, which is something that is super unique to this book in the realm of YA and really important for young people to see in my opinion
* It just really builds on the found family that was established in Raybearer and really showcases ALL the different kinds of love, and I loved it so much
* There is physical disability representation, and not just any physical disability, but a double upper limb amputee, which just filled my heart and my eyes to hear her story and to see her at the end of the book

Things I didn't like:
- Nothing. I genuinely have nothing. I was very concerned at first that the pacing would be off with the amount of time that Tar spends NOT in the Underworld, but it was perfect. I loved the pacing, and it was great. I wouldn't have minded seeing a bit more at the end, but I still absolutely loved it.

Overall, READ THIS DUOLOGY! It is beautiful, the physical copies are beautiful, the stories are beautiful, and Tarisai is a new favorite heroine. I love it so much.

Redemptor releases August 17! Mark your calendars and pre-order your copies! I know I certainly have!

**Please note any quotes are from an ARC and may change by time of publication. Many thanks to NetGalley and ABRAMS Kids for the eARC in exchange for an honest review. A review will be posted to my instagram @jemofabook in late July/early August nearer to publication. **

{4.5 stars}

"The only thing more powerful than a wish is purpose."

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The Raybearer was one of my favorite fantasy reads of last year and Redemptor is a beautiful ending to the story. Tarisai is the principled heroine that we all need in our lives. She learns some hard lessons as she must build her council and enter the Underworld. We see benevolent Dayo, brave Sanjeet and kindhearted Kirah by her side as she must find 12 new rulers to bear her Ray. We see more interesting cultures and characters from Aritsar and Songland, some who are ruthless and power hungry and others who are perhaps even more principled than Tarisai.

For me it is the characters who carry this story but the world building continued to be immersive and the temptations and horrors of the Underworld were fabulous. That would be my one criticism, I wanted more time trekking through the Underworld.

Redemptor is a fabulous ending to the series, I'd love another book in this world though!

Thanks to Netgalley for a copy of this novel. All opinions above are my own.

Redemptor review
In book 2 of this duology, this world we loved only gets bigger! A lot of new characters are introduced, and I particularly loved Zuri and Adukeh. They each added a lot to the story and the atmosphere of the book in their own ways. Aritsar is so packed full of cultural influences – from the traditions, to the food, to the CLOTHES! What I love about this writing style is that it allows for readers like me, who really visualize everything they read, to really engage their imaginations and build up this amazing world in such intricate detail in our mind’s eye. The beauty of the visuals and the cultural influences is amazing!
I really enjoyed Tarisai as a character. She’s atypical of a main character because I feel we get a lot of heroines who start their journeys confused and making constant mistakes, but by the end they have everything under control, are confident in themselves, and are ready to take on the world. Tarisai manages to remain relatable because she is committed to the point of self-destruction, is wonderfully imperfect, and continues to make mistakes. Even more than that, she stays humble – in the end she is ready to take on the world and is confident in her power, but she’s self-aware and ready to be burdened and remain down to earth. While Tarisai and Zuri’s arcs were satisfying, I found not all the characters got to see their stories through. Particularly Sangeet, who had a whole arc but… off page? And then it was explored in approximately 2 sentences. There could have been so much more there.
What I will say about this book is that the pacing is way off. I had a hard time getting into the book, in part because so little happens in the first two thirds. As a result, the ending felt rushed and could have been a lot more detailed. Nothing in the first half felt ‘high stakes’. I believe that if the pacing was better OR the books were split into three books instead of two, the story would have come across better.
Overall, I enjoyed reading this book and re-entering this world? The visuals and characters were great, but I don’t feel that the pacing allowed this one to stand up to Raybearer. Sad to see this story come to an end!

<i> Redemptor </i> picks up where [book:Raybearer|50158128] leaves off: After Dayo, Tarisai, and their council are abruptly put in charge of the realm, they must wrestle with how to approach centuries of oppression and grief. Simultaneously, Tarisai is wrestling with the impacts of her decision to enter the Underworld.

My thoughts on this book are probably best summed up by Ifueko's dedication: "For young revolutionaries, who have chosen the loneliest job in the world." <i> Redemptor </i> really tackles a lot of the struggles of advocating for big, systemic change including the overwhelming weight that guilt can hold, the difficulty of reparations, the feeling that you are alone or suddenly too angry, the seduction of the status quo, and the difficulty of asking for help when you need it. I feel like a lot of YA Fantasy novels shy away from the aftermath of acquiring power; we're often left to assume that because a good person is in power it all works out okay. I appreciate that Ifueko tackles these topics head on ([book:Bitterblue|12680907] also does this relatively well!). <spoiler> Although there are no easy solutions, Tarisai's emphasis on imagining a world worth surviving in and her final decision to redistribute the Ray to the people warms my anti-capitalist/abolitionist heart </spoiler>

In this book, Ifueko is a bit more explicit about tying the structure of the Council to non-traditional ideas of love (emphasizing platonic love equally (if not more) than romantic love). She also goes a smidge more in depth about Dayo's asexuality and his anxieties for the future, something I really appreciated. <spoiler> However, Tarisai's new council fell a bit flat for me. In many ways I was expecting this book to be very relationship focused; Tarisai has to build a strong bond with leaders from across the realm (and ideally they would bond with each other). This aspect of the book fell a bit flat for me, especially considering we know very little about most of the members of Tarisai's new council. They are important enough to her that their love helps carry her through the Underworld, but I didn't feel their impact as much as I wanted to. That being said, I loved Adukeh (Tarisai's Griot) especially; she was clearly a grounded character and I honestly would read a whole book focused just on her. I usually don't get too emotional reading, but many of her songs packed an emotional punch and she had more intimacy with Tarisai than a lot of other characters did </spoiler>

Overall, I enjoyed this book and I am really, really looking forward to reading reviews from others.

So happy to have gotten an Arc for Redemptor from NetGalley. My opinions are my own. I loved loved Raybearer, one of the most unique YA Fantasies I’ve read. I finished book 2 today and I wasn’t disappointed. Jordan’s writing is just soooo beautiful and mesmerizing. Rich, unique worldbuilding continues in this installment, the plot and pace are on point; we start the book and delve into action and I was on the edge. The romance, I’m here for it, TARJEET forever (very healthy). The main characters and some side characters were well developed and completed their arcs from book 1. BTW I love Melu (smiling over here). The magic system, again like book 1, is unique and blossoms much more in book 2. I really loved the concept of the Ray in book 1 and same in book 2 and it got bigger ( I won’t say more so I don’t spoil it for others). Found family, I’m here for it. Honestly, this duology is a classic and I can’t wait for it to come out, so I can get my hardcover and the audiobook as well. Some book 2s don’t live up to the first, but Redemptor SURPASSED it and then some. Tarisai is a Heroine I won’t forget in a long long time; her agency, her personality, her thoughtfulness which comes full circle with a thing she did with Melu at the end (which I can’t say so as not to ruin it). I really just want to round up by saying, I love love this duology and thank you, Netgalley for giving me an arc.

I loved Raybearer and Redemptor wrapped up the story very well. The magic system is unique and the concept of Raybearers and their council is so interesting. I really enjoyed this series. The pacing seemed a bit off in this one but to cover as much time as it needed to, I did appreciate that the author didn't try to drag out the story to yet another book. Although I do think that Tar's experience in the Underworld could have been expanded on a little. The whole story is built up to her traveling through the Underworld but it only takes up about 7-8% of the book. Then the Redemptor children being sent to the surface seemed like a throw away plot point because it only came up briefly. Again I do appreciate that the story is not drawn out over the course of several books. It was still quite enjoyable.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

If I could rate this book (this duology, really) more than 5 stars, I would.

A stunning conclusion to a beautiful duology. Jordan Ifueko has indefinitely changed my standards for the young adult fantasy genre (honestly probably my standards for any genre) and I honestly feel like I will have a difficult time finding another duology that makes me feel the way Raybearer and Redemptor made me feel.I felt connected to nearly all of the characters and related to so many of their emotions and experiences while reading, which isn't something that I experience often.

This duology has it all - the found family trope, amazing BIPOC representation, outstanding imagery and world-building, and examples of healthy & loving romantic relationships (which isn't seen too often in YA).

I adored the cast of characters in Raybearer, and I loved the new characters introduced in Redemptor almost as much. We also get to see our original anointed ones develop as characters and family, which was so heart warming.

The pacing of this book, and the duology as a whole, was fantastic. I never felt as if the story dragged or moved to fast

This book will stay with me forever and I will likely think of it every day for the rest of my life.

So we start off right where Raybearer ended. Tarisai has to anoint the 12 councilors of the realm ans get them to love her so she can enter the Underworld and end the treaty that allows the Redemptor children to be taken by the abiku.

What a journey. Tarisai is such a selfless ruler. She starts to question her sanity and decisions she’s made. She feels so much guilt and like she’s not doing enough. She really went through it here. Luckily, her brothers and sisters were there for her. Dayo was super supportive and I liked him in this book. I thought him and a certain someone were really cute.

Obviously I love my Sanjeev, though he didn’t appear in this book as much as I wished. He was off helping Aritsar. He did show up when Tarisai needed him most. I wish we could’ve gotten more scene with those two though.

We meet new characters that bring interesting storylines to the plot, like Zuri. There was a plot twist that I did not see coming that involved him. I was shocked. I liked Zuri and thought he was courageous and just.. wanted what was best for his people. He wanted justice.

We also see old characters that help Tar. This was such a good ending to an awesome duology. There seems to be a happy ending though I wish we did get an epilogue. I wanted more. I definitely recommend.

Redemptor, the sequel to Raybearer, features Tarisai the 17 year old empress trying and struggling to make peace in her kingdom. Tarisai is such a relatable character struggling with her feelings and self doubt, but overall sticking to what she believes. The ending is so satisfying. This is perfect for fans of Raybearer, as the sequel definitely doesn't disappoint.

From the first paragraph, I knew this book would be a good one. I immersed myself into the book from the first chapter and I cannot say enough good things about this book! Honestly amazing! The writing is incredible and the plot is just one to die for. I am absolutely obsessed with this book. My favorite part would have to be the character development throughout the book. Character development is something I look forward to and this book did not disappoint.

Love the strong female lead and the deep values of culture, unity and loyalty. Non stop adventure, and very unique and creative world building.

I love duologies because they remove the risk of those "filler" second books typically seen in trilogies. And, unless it was not always intended as a duology, the second books tend to shine so brightly. I always expected to love Raybearer (and I did, but a couple of items felt a bit short to me) so when I read the premise of Redemptor, I was so incredibly sold! I'm already invested in this world, in Tarisai and Dayo, in Ifueko's writing style, and now we get to GO TO THE UNDERWORLD. Hell yes. Sign me up.

But this brings me to probably my only negative aspect of this book: I expected the bulk of the plot, based on the ending of Raybearer and the synopsis, to be focused on Tarisai's council and her trip to the underworld. But it wasn't. About halfway through the book, when we weren't anywhere near the underworld, I was getting a bit concerned like "was I wrong and this is a trilogy?" and "how the heck will we have time for this epic adventure?" And while I did love what we got, I had expected more. We got very overarching stories of her new council, but much like Dayo's in Raybearer, only a few members actually got the spotlight shown on them. Instead, the bulk of the book focused on Tarisai and Dayo's relationship and future, Tarisai coming to terms with guilt over the actions of her ancestors and her worthiness to assume the role of Empress Redemptor role of nobles and people in power exploiting those beneath them. This honestly felt like a more appropriate use of pages than building a council (hey, we already kind of got that) and authentic to Tarisai's story.

The message and themes present in this book hit all the right notes, and I was on the edge of my seat the entire time. I loved getting to know old characters more and meeting a couple of new characters. I think anyone who enjoyed Raybearer will be just as thrilled to get their hands on Redemptor.

After what happened in book one I was looking forward to the sequel. Cliffhangers are the worst! My initial thoughts are that this was a good ending to this duology but it also wasn’t as good as the first book for me.

Tarisai is back and having to deal with a lot when it comes to her deal with the Underworld and forming alliances as a Raybearer. You can tell that it does weigh on her and sometimes she can be a bit stubborn when it comes to listening to the advice of those around her. At times she was hard to like because of it but as with anyone, it does lead to growth and it was nice to see how she has progressed throughout both books.

When it came to the rest of the cast of characters, I felt like they lacked the depth they had in book one. Some of the characters had more page time than others but since a lot of the book talks about their bonds to one another I just was expecting a lot more from it.

The pacing and plot were a hit or miss depending on where I was in the book. Some of the plot twists happened so quickly that I had to reread to make sure I understood what was happening. The beginning and ending of the book had a faster pace while the middle seemed to drag on a bit. At least there was still great world-building and clothing descriptions which is what I also liked in book one. There are topics found in the book that mirror our own in the real world which is always nice to see.

Overall, it was good but I was just expecting a bit more from it.

Readers who couldn't get enough of Tarisai in Raybearer will enjoy this story of the 17 year old empress as she works to make peace in the kingdom. Though she continues to struggle with self-doubt and her feelings for Sanjeet, she remains true to her principals and makes the perilous journey to the underworld. The story gets a bit bogged down in the middle, but an exciting and satisfying ending makes up for it. Definite Black Panther vibes, lush fashion, and a little romance will make this series a popular choice for ages 13-17.

Have you ever read a book that just felt nigh perfect that you struggled to articulate your immense love and awe for a book? That’s how I felt about Raybearer, which remains to be one of my favourite books of all time. I felt, then, that there was a lot at stake for me to love Redemptor, the sequel and conclusion to the Raybearer duology. What if Redemptor doesn’t live up to the brilliance of Raybearer? What if I’m disappointed? Reading series conclusions can be fraught, but if you, like me, loved Raybearer, then breathe a sigh of relief: Redemptor was a phenomenal and deserving conclusion to Tarisai’s story.

Reading Redemptor solidified for me that Jordan Ifueko is one of the best storytellers of our time. I was in awe after finishing Redemptor, and it was incredibly satisfying to read a sequel that held a candle to the first book. The storytelling in this book is just as phenomenal. Again, a book of reasonable length – 336 pages! – and yet, the story is so tightly woven and well-told that it doesn’t feel its length. Indeed, reading Redemptor offers an immersive and rich reading experience that builds and expands on the story and world outlined by the first book.

What makes Redemptor work so brilliantly isn’t just because of its phenomenal storytelling. Rather, what makes Redemptor such a good sequel is largely because of its deeply emotional character-driven story intertwined with its strong themes. Specifically, I loved Tarisai in this book; a flawed yet compassionate girl who bears the world upon her shoulders, tries to do her best while also very confronted with the wrongs and injustices of the world. I couldn’t help but feel that Tarisai’s characterisation was a love letter to teenagers, especially Black teenagers, who feel the injustices of the world intensely and endeavour to make the world a better and more just place, even when such a task feels insurmountable.

As Tarisai is tasked to anoint twelve others and unite a world divided and burdened by past injustices that have created generational trauma, Redemptor poses some great questions about justice and the cost of justice. In addition, the story also explores the question: What does it mean to live? I loved how the story and its developments arrive at their answers, in ways that feel meaningful to Tarisai’s character arc. Furthermore, I loved that this story highlights that people do not necessarily exist to sacrifice themselves for something greater; that lives are meaningful even if simply lived.

In addition, if you love the found family trope, then Redemptor will feel like a blessing. I loved the relationships in this book; loved the intimate friendships between the different council members, the soulmate-like relationship between Tarisai and Dayo, and the love that Tarisai and Sanjeet have for one another. In particular, I loved Tarisai’s relationships with Min Ja and Zuri. I enjoyed how Redemptor explores what it means to love someone versus what it means to love the idea of someone – that love is not always romantic, but love can also be about respect, care, and vulnerability.

Redemptor is a powerful and worthy sequel to the masterpiece that is Raybearer. Ifueko takes everything that was good in Raybearer, and made it great in Redemptor, wasting no iota of potential or moment to elevate, deepen, and expand on the world and story. With the ending and conclusion to Tarisai’s story, Redemptor solidified for me that the Raybearer series is now one of my all-time favourite duologies – and, I argue, possibly one of the best YA fantasy duologies we have had the privilege of seeing.